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Me, a person with short black hair, standing outside wearing the Everlane Way-High Jean with sandals. There are red brick homes in the background.

Everlane Review: The Way-High Jean

Published by welcomeobjects

I love my skinny  jeans. But after more than a year of wearing sweats at home, the idea of squeezing into skinny jeans does not appeal. So, I’ve been on the search for a pair of jeans with a straighter, roomier leg. I decided to try the Everlane Way-High Jean for a few reasons.

First, I am a fan of high-rise anything. Most of my pants are high rise now. As someone petite with short legs, high rise gives me the illusion of longer legs. Second, I’ve had success with Everlane denim in the past. Generally, I’ve found their denim to be of good quality at a reasonable price. (And when there have been issues, Everlane has quickly replaced the defective pair.) So when Everlane announced these jeans as “our highest rise yet,” it got my attention.

These jeans were gifted to me by Everlane and this post contains affiliate links. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about items that interest me. Thanks for supporting Welcome Objects!

I already had my eye on the Way-High Jean and the Cheeky Jean when Everlane reached out to ask if I’d like to try one of their products. This was a surprise, as they’ve only gifted one item to me two years ago. They have a digital flyer with products they’re promoting called the Best Sellers Line Sheet that they share with bloggers and influencers. The Way-High Jean happened to be on the line sheet, so I asked for it.

So, how does it fit? Here’s a 5’7″ model wearing size 27 in coal, a black wash.

A model wears the Everlane Way-High Jean

And here’s 5′ 4″ me wearing size 27. The Way-High Jean comes in regular and tall inseams. I ordered the regular, which has a 27 1/2″ inseam. But I cut 3″ off, which was easy to do myself since the coal wash has a raw hem.

Me, a person with short black hair, standing outside wearing the Everlane Way-High Jean with sandals. There are red brick homes in the background.

Ooops, doing that pigeon toe thing, a bad habit from childhood. Wearing: Everlane Way-High Jean // Vetta Shirt // dr. Liza Sandals // Lo & Sons Bag [review]

Sizing & Fit: These jeans, at least in the coal wash, run a bit big. In many reviews on the Everlane site, people said they sized down. During the pandemic, I went up a pants size, so I’m a 6/28 these days. Sizing down put me at size 27. I worried the 27s would be too tight. And while they initially felt tight in the waist, they eased up with wear. Going down one size was the right fit for me. If you want a looser fit, your regular size should work for that. If you’re between sizes, go with the smaller size.

The rise, according to Everlane, is 12 1/8. I measured a touch under 12″ with my tape measure, but whatever. Close enough. The rise is about an inch higher than other high-rise jeans from the brand. The leg has an ever so slight curve to them.

The fit is fantastic for me. Honestly, I’m surprised by how well they fit.

The fit is fantastic for me. Honestly, I’m surprised by how well they fit. They accommodate my tummy pooch, holding it in without feeling too tight. They don’t cut in at the waist uncomfortably. The back side fit well too. They’re not too tight on my thighs, which can be an issue for me sometimes. And they don’t bag out during the day.

Fabric: These jeans have the nice heft of denim. The fabric is a medium thickness. A tag advertised these as “low stretch” but I find that there’s some give. Fiber content is 96% organic cotton, 1% elastane, and 3% other fiber.

How they Wear: I’ve been wearing the Way-High Jeans for a couple months. They soften nicely over time. I can sit comfortably in them. The frayed hem means there’s some maintenance involved in cutting wayward threads. No big deal. But if you need to shorten these jeans and are not a fan of the raw hem, you could get them properly hemmed. Most of the other washes (there are 5 others at the time of this writing) feature a finished hem.

Where It’s Made: The Saitex International factory in Bien Hoa, Vietnam. The factory is LEED-certified and uses renewable energy and air drying to reduce CO2 emissions. Saitex makes jeans for other brands as well.

Styling: Because the leg is straight and loose, I’m careful not to style these with anything too baggy on top. They work well with sandals for warmer weather. They also look cute with boots, as I wore them here, for colder months.

Other Jeans

While shopping for straight leg jeans, I tried on other high-waisted styles, including Levi’s Rib Cage Straight Ankle Jeans, which are similarly priced at $98. (The Way-High Jean is $88.) The Rib Cage felt tighter in the thighs for me and have a button fly. (I prefer zip fly.)

On the other end of the price spectrum, I also tried Universal Thread’s High-Rise Slim Straight Jeans at Target, which cost $30 and are fair trade certified. These have a slimmer leg than the Way-High Jeans. The fabric is thinner and stretchier (only 70% cotton; the rest is lyocell and elastane). And while they weren’t bad, they weren’t as flattering on me as the Way-High Jeans.

Overall, I’m happy with the Way-High Jean. They’ve become my go-to jeans. What a relief to find jeans that fit well!

UPDATE 6/15/22 – I ordered the Way-High Jean in Folsom Blue in size 27 and they fit more snugly than the coal wash. They’re pretty tight in the waist for me. So, I’d say this wash is more true to size. I also tried on the Light Indigo wash, and these fit more like the coal. They eased up a bit, so sizing down worked. It’s probably best to order a few sizes or visit a store if you have access to one to ensure the best fit.

UPDATE 2/8/26 – Around the end of 2025, I noticed that Everlane updated this jean. The Way-High Jean 2.0 has a slightly lower rise by a quarter of an inch — 12.25″ instead of 12.5″ according to current product listings. (My oldest pair of these jeans, the ones pictured in this post, has a 12″ rise, but another pair I bought in 2023 has a 12.5″ rise, so they’ve been adjusting the rise over time.) It also has “improved comfort at the waist, and an adjusted saddle shape for a comfier fit in the seat.” Now priced at $148 it comes in nine colors. This also means that the original Way-High Jean is now heavily discounted. These have become my favorite jeans; I wear them constantly.

I’ve reviewed a lot of Everlane over the years. You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here. If you found my review helpful, please consider shopping through my link. Thank you!

Brownstones in Brooklyn. A tree is on the sidewalk.

A Big Move (& thoughts on decluttering)

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a minute since my last check-in, and that’s because I’ve had my hands quite full. Some personal news: I moved across the country from San Francisco to Brooklyn. It was bittersweet to say farewell to the Bay Area, but I’m looking forward to New York. And I arrived just in time for my favorite season, fall.

I tried to declutter as much possible for my move. I didn’t take that much of my furniture. I’m not prone to collecting stuff. While I wouldn’t say I’m a true minimalist, I’ve really made an effort these last several years to pare down. Still, I felt overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I have. Every drawer that you empty in your home becomes a box on the moving truck (or in my case, the Pods container). It all adds up. There were so many boxes! At a certain point, I ran out of time, too, and just had to throw the rest of everything into boxes.

Now that I’m on the other end, I feel tension between unpacking and purging. I want to put away my things as soon as possible so that I can gain a sense of normalcy. But I also want to continue evaluating the things I own — with an even stricter eye — and get rid of more things, especially with the stress of moving fresh on my mind. I’ve already put some things out on the sidewalk, as is the custom in New York, for strangers and neighbors to take.

But I can’t spend most of my time and effort decluttering. Sometimes it feels like that’s what’s required to truly pare down. I have to laugh to myself when I think of Marie Kondo’s advice to declutter all at once so that you can be freed of the excess stuff and live your best life. In theory this sounds great. But who has time for that? I can see what she means, though. I feel like I’ve been decluttering a little bit at a time for years. It’s never ending. And I’m not even a person who owns that much.

Of course, this is all a very first world problem. So, I’ll shut up now.

Anyhow, this is all to say that you’ll be seeing some more home goods (and perhaps some home organizing) content on this blog as I settle in. And if you have any tips about living in New York or favorite places you love, let me know in the comments.

Me, a person with short black hair, standing on a subway platform, wearing leopard print boots.

How long will it take me to learn the subway lines? Wearing: Vetta Shirt // Everlane cardigan, discontinued [review] // Everlane Way-High Jean (gifted) [review] // dr. Liza boots [review] // Everlane bag, discontinued [review]

yamazaki veil trash can in white

The Trash Can that Hides Unsightly Plastic Bags

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a long while since I’ve written a home products post, so I looked around my apartment to find an object that I absolutely love, what I call a “welcome object.” And, well, I have decided to write about a trash can.

Yes, I love a trash can. Never thought I’d have such strong feelings for a trash receptacle, but here we are. I’ve owned this particular trash can from Yamazaki for years now, and my love remains strong.

What’s so special about it? For me, it’s an ideal example of form meets function.

On the functional end, this trash can does something a little differently than other ones: it holds and hides the unsightly trash bag. I was raised to reuse plastic grocery bags as trash can liners. (Doesn’t everyone?) And now that San Francisco and other cities have banned flimsy single-use plastic bags, I hoard them when I come across them, carefully folding them into triangles for storage. (But that’s another post.)

An aside: I feel bad that I’m using plastic bags, seeing as how plastic lasts forever. (OK, not forever, but perhaps 500 years). But I’ve been working on reducing what goes to the landfill by trying to buy items that come in less packaging. I’m proud to say that I’ve reduced my trash output to about one flimsy grocery bag’s worth of trash per week to 10 days. And I have the city of San Francsico to thank for taking my compost. What’s in my trash now? Mostly packaging, like potato chip bags.

Anyways, back to trash cans. Basically every trash can I grew up with looked like this:

A blue plastic trash can with a plastic bag stretched over the opening.

The usual trash can situation: plastic bag stretched over the sides.

This look always bothered me because I care about aesthetics and that plastic bag over the rim is just unattractive. But, what else are you supposed to do?

The Yamazaki trash can, made from ABS plastic, provides a solution. It consists of two parts.

Yamazaki Veil trash and a plastic Thank You bag.

Yamazaki Trash Can – $35-$50

The top is a cover that slides off, revealing the bottom part, which has notches.

The top and bottom parts of the Yamazaki Veil trash.

The Yamazaki Veil trashcan consists of two parts.

Place the bag over the sides with the notches.

A plastic thank you bag inside a YAmazaki Veil trashcan

Then slide on the cover. The sides of the cover go into the notches and hold the bag in place.

Closeup of the top of the Yamazaki veil trash can being put together

The cover slides into the notches.

Viola! The unsightly plastic bag is hidden! Ingenious.

Yamazaki Veil trash in white

The top parts slides back into place.

And that brings me to form. This is a handsome trash can. Modern and minimalist in design. A simple pleasing square. It also has a handy cutout handle on one side in case you need to grab it and move it. I use it in my bathroom. At 7.1 x 7.1 x 14 inches and 2.5 gallon capacity, it’s on the small side, so it’s not good for the kitchen or other areas where you may generate more trash. But I find it perfect for the bathroom.

You can find this trash can on the Yamazaki site, Bloomingdales, or West Elm. I bought mine from the Container Store. There are other iterations of this trash can as well, including a tall one made of steel. And if you want to upgrade the materials, there’s also this steel one with a wooden top.

This trash can is my introduction to Yamazaki, which makes practical home organizing items in pleasing, simple designs. Many of them work well for small spaces, like this skinny rolling cart. (UPDATE: I now own this cart and reviewed it here.) I’m now eyeing this magnetic paper towel holder and this minimalist banana stand.

UPDATE 5/11/23 – Now that I’ve traveled to Japan I’m here to report that all the trash cans I encountered in hotels are designed to hide the liner. Love that! By the way, here’s my Japan packing list.

White, gray, and black shirts on hangers in a closet.

The Reasons I Got Rid of Things in My Wardrobe

Published by welcomeobjects

Lately I’ve been in closet decluttering mode. After counting every single item in my wardrobe, I am now re-evaluating what I own.

There are countless articles and blog posts out there about how to declutter your closet. (And of course, there is the KonMari method.) Some suggest an order to declutter in. Others pose a list of questions to help you decide whether or not to keep something. I even saw one that asked you to think about what your goals were. (Um, to get rid of stuff? And therefore feel more satisfied with life? Duh.)

This is not a post that tells you how to do any of that. Decluttering one’s wardrobe feels personal to me because clothes are personal. So, what I’m sharing today is not prescriptive in any way.

As I got rid of things, I made a list of those items, and I wrote down the reasons why. So here’s a summary of that list. Instead of giving a big-picture look at how to declutter, here are the specific reasons I removed certain items from my wardrobe.

1. It didn’t fit well. This was the most cited reason in my list. Out of the 27 items I purged so far this year, 17 of them listed fit as one of the reasons, if not the reason. This can be further broken down into two subcategories:

1a. It never fit me. Apparently I sometimes just buy things that are the wrong size. In some other cases, clothes change on you. Example: These Everlane tank tops I wrote about stretched out too much. But mostly it was me buying the wrong size. That speaks to me needing to pay more attention when I’m shopping.

1b. It doesn’t fit me now aka my weight changed aka it’s too tight. Ooof. In other words, many pencil skirts and pants did not make the cut because they now pull funny across my belly. Emotionally, this was a little hard to accept. I held on to things thinking that I could fit back into them again one day. But it’s been years since I could wear some of these items comfortably. Clothes that remind me that I can’t fit into them anymore make me sad. So, in a move of self acceptance, I donated these items. If my weight changes, then I can reassess my wardrobe then.

2. It felt like the old me. I cited style as the reason for letting something go in 5 instances. That seems like a low number. To me this means I know what I like and I’m mostly sticking to it.

3. I never reach for it. I cited this reason 4 times. This is a perplexing one. Usually it’s an item that adheres to my style and fits reasonably well, but for some reason, I just never reach for it. Why exactly? Hard to say. I guess we should let some things remain a mystery.

4. The details of the garment aren’t quite right. This reason overlaps with style and with fit, but I put it in its own category because were it not for the detail being wrong for me, maybe I would have kept it. (But then, the garment would be a different garment.) Examples: The sleeves on a cardigan were too skinny for my liking. A shirt was too long and thus not flattering to my proportions. The closures on a jumpsuit were on the shoulder, a strange place for them, and made it a challenge to put on.

5. Injuries and old age. I regret to inform you that limitations of an aging body is a real thing. This reason applies exclusively to some of the shoes I purged. Due to injury, I can’t wear heels anymore. I can’t put too much pressure on the balls of my feet, and I need arch support. I have accepted that my feet aren’t going to suddenly get better. Thus, these were easy decisions to make — even if it hurt to jettison over a thousand dollars worth of shoes. They’re either comfortable or they’re not.

6. I never use it. This reason was cited just twice, and in both cases they were running shoes. Because running is a thing I haven’t done in years. And actually, I hate running.

7. It no longer sparks joy. As I considered a vintage bag I had thrifted from Goodwill, I realized I just didn’t care for it anymore. It was perfectly fine, but I had just fallen out of love.

8. I wore it to death. One item fit this category, a sweatshirt from Target that I wore often, year after year until there were multiple holes in it. I felt pretty good about using it all the way to the end of its life. But it gets even better! A woman in my local Buy Nothing group was collecting old sweatshirts and sweaters to refashion into baby clothes, so I gave her my sweatshirt. Now it’s hopefully living a new life. Not bad for a piece of fast fashion!

First Image: Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

Lively bralette review: three bralettes on a white surface.

A Review of 3 Lively Bralettes

Published by welcomeobjects

If you’re anything like me, you discovered during the pandemic that you don’t want to wear bras ever again. This did not come as a surprise to me. I’ve always been one of those take-the-bra-off-as-soon-as-you-walked-through-the-door people.

As a small busted person, I don’t need that much support, so I can get away with not wearing a bra. But, I’m also not brave enough to go around without one, particularly in a thinner shirt or a knit. I already get enough street harassment as it is just by being a woman, walking down a street.

So, I decided to shop for something bra-like, but not a full-on bra. Something like a bralette.

But what exactly is a bralette?

But what exactly is a bralette? I confess that I didn’t really know. From the name, I figured it was a bra lite. Is it an underthing for your boobs without underwire? But there are already bras without underwire. Being an old, I had to google it and learned from this Slate article that the bralette is a recent-ish trendy invention. “A bralette is an unstructured bra. It’s usually unlined, unpadded, wire-free,” says Cora Harrington, the founder of Lingerie Addict.

I tried a bralette just like this description three years ago and it baffled me. I didn’t get it. Unlined and unpadded? Why even wear it? (Of course, I can see someone bustier wanting some support, so I get that. I just didn’t understand what was in it for me.)

This time around, I devised some criteria. The bralettes I ordered should have:

  • Lightly padded cups
  • Clasp enclosure that’s adjustable, because I’m not into pullovers

I tried three bralettes from Lively, a brand I’ve bought from before because they have decent products at a mid-range price. (Bras run around $35). I’m a 32D, though sometimes I wear the sister size of 34C. The size guide advised a size S for 32D, but M for 34C, so I ordered both in all of the following to try out.

The Deco Mesh Bralette

Lively bralette review: the deco mesh bralette in black, the inside of it.

I chose the Deco Mesh Bralette to try because it includes a padded insert (which can be removed if you’re not into it). I also thought the geometric pattern was cute. The S fit best for me in this bralette. Other features include a wide band and a double strap. But why? Do double straps serve a function or is it just for looks? (I think it’s just for looks.)

Bra straps have a tendency to fall down on me. I’ve not been able to solve this issue. It happens to me with every bra, especially after I’ve worn them for a while. So, I didn’t relish the thought of having double the number of straps falling down on me. I was also worried that the wide band might feel bothersome and too constricting over a day of wear.

But the dealbreaker was the seam running right down the middle lower half of each cup, which features in many of Lively’s bralettes. I assume this design helps create the cup shape. However, the seams don’t lay flat. In fact, they kind of go right over the nipples and accentuate that whole area. The seams showed through my shirts. This is not the look I’m going for. So, nope, not for me.

The Luxe Trim Bralette

The Lively Luxe trim bralette and the padded insert.

Inside of the Luxe Trim Bralette, and the padded insert

First off, the Luxe Trim Bralette was noticeably tighter in the same size as the other bralettes. For the other bralettes, I took a small, but for this one I sized up to a medium. Still, it left angry marks on me at the edges of the cups.

Not only was it too tight, but it also had the same seam-showing issue as the Deco Mesh Bralette. Too bad, because I liked everything else about it: the removable inserts, the plum color (it also comes in green), the soft fabric, and the satiny trim.

The Eco Deep V Bralette

Lively bralette review: the Eco Deep V bralette in black, the inside of it.

The Eco Deep V Bralette has lightly molded cups. The padding is not removable.

The Eco Deep V Bralette is so named because it’s made from 81% recycled polyester. I tried the medium first, which was so unflattering in the cups. They crumpled at the sides. But then I put on the small and the the bra cups smoothed out. Ooops, I was just wearing the wrong size.

With its wider straps, it looks like a sports bra. Although I initially thought that this design was the least cute of the three, the look has grown on me. The sports-bra-ness of it means I feel comfortable wearing it on its own if it’s hot out. This bralette was also the most practical out of the bunch. For one, it doesn’t have the seam going down the front, so it’s smoother beneath clothing. The band also seemed to fit best on me and didn’t feel too constricting.

I decided to keep this one. I’ve been wearing the Eco Deep V instead of my usual bra, the All Day T-shirt Bra, which has an underwire. Although I gave that bra a (mostly) rave review when I first tried it, after going through the pandemic and not wearing it every day, I’m like, what is this torture device?

Does the Eco Deep V feel more comfortable than my regular bra? Yes. Not having underwire pressing up against my rib cage is indeed more comfortable.

Do the straps slip down on me? Yes, they do sometimes. But the thicker straps are not as annoying to deal with as skinnier straps. I’m not sure how to explain this exactly, but when the straps are skinnier, they feel like they get in the way more.

Is the Eco V Deep so comfortable that I don’t think to take it off right away when I get home? Nope. I still want to take off my bra ASAP. But it is more comfy than other bras I’ve worn, and I don’t believe that a bra that’s so comfy that I don’t want to take it off exists out there.

A note about Lively’s production

When I first wrote about Lively, it appeared that they owned their own factory in China. That made me think they had control over the conditions in that factory. Since I last wrote about them, the brand has been bought by Wacoal. These bralettes were made in the Philippines, though Lively says it still uses a factory dedicated to them.

Lively presents itself as ethical and sustainable, but it’s hard to know if this is really true.

Lively presents itself as ethical and sustainable, but it’s hard to know if this is really true. The brand’s about page describes itself as both a community and a brand. (A community? Come on now.) “Each year, we continue to expand on our mission toward more sustainability through the development of high-quality fabrics made of recycled materials that are good for your wardrobe and good for the earth,” it says. As we can see with the Eco Deep V, they do use some recycled materials.

But there’s scant details about the factory, its working conditions, and whether the workers make a living wage. IDK, the cheery info on the website feels like green washing. And the Good On You app gives Lively a poor rating.

To be honest, I made my order without looking into Lively’s production. I had ordered from them before, so I just did so again without thinking about it. It wasn’t until I sat down to write this post that I tried to find more details. But now that I know, next time I will do some research to find more ethical brands.

3 pairs of Everlane sandals on a rug

Everlane Try-On: Summer Sandals

Published by welcomeobjects

It’s been a long while, but I happened to walk by the Everlane store in San Francisco the other day, so I popped in and tried on some shoes for fun. Here’s my impressions of four pairs of sandals.

A few relevant facts about my feet for those who are new here: I’m a size 6.5. My feet are wide-ish and flat. Also, I have low tolerance for uncomfortable shoes and need arch support. So, I’m pretty picky. Most Everlane shoes have not worked for me, though there’s been a few winners, namely the now discontinued Form Crossover Sandals (reviewed here).

The Day Crossover Sandal

Everlane Day Crossover sandals as worn by my feet.

The Day Crossover Sandal in light taupe, now with a squarer toe. Please excuse my deteriorating nail polish!

This sandal is an update to the original Day Crossover Sandal, which I first reviewed in 2019, but with a more square toe. It’s also $10 less than the first iteration.

Where It’s Made: Dois Irmãos, Brazil

What I Liked: Like the rounded toe version, this sandal is lightweight. The leather on the upper is super soft and the outsole is rubbery, not slippery. Also, the color offerings are great: a bunch of wearable neutrals: black, cream, and light taupe. A tasteful snakeskin and golden brown are currently on sale. (Note that the snakeskin seems like yet another iteration because it has the original heel, but the newer square toe, and it’s made in a different factory.)

What Was Meh: The footbed, while flexible, is thin and flat without arch support. Though this updated version sports a thicker sole with the slightest of wedges, it’s still thin. I personally like to be further from the ground. I also prefer the rounded toe over the square toe, but that’s just me and my dislike of ’90s style.

Two stock photos of the Everlane Day Crossover sandals. The pair on top have a rounded toe area, while the ones below have a squared off toe

The 2019 (top) and 2021 (bottom) versions of the Day Crossover Sandal

Fit: I tried on the 6.5 and it seemed true to size, though snug in the toes. As someone with wide feet, I’d be inclined to size up to a 7. In any case, the soft leather straps seem like they’d stretch to accommodate. Everlane also says that this shoe is wider than the original.

The Fisherman Sandal

Everlane Fisherman Sandals in black as worn on me.

The Day Fisherman Sandal comes in black, cream, and caramel brown.

These interwoven sandals feature an adjustable ankle strap and buckle. I can’t tell if they’re cute or not.

Where It’s Made: Thai Binh, Vietnam

What I Liked: The materials on the Fisherman Sandal are thoughtful: gold-rated leather, bio-based EVA, and recycled materials. What does gold-rated leather mean, though? This is a designation from the Leather Working Group, which audits the environmental performance of leather production, including traceability and chemical management. This is the only shoe out of the three leather ones in this post that uses gold-rated leather. Also, the 1″ heel is the minimum distance I need from the ground.

What Was Meh: Though the footbed has some cushioning, the whole thing felt a bit stiff to me. They probably require some breaking in. Also, in the time I’ve taken to write this, I’ve decided that they’re not cute, at least on me. I feel like they make my wide feet look even wider. People also complain that they’re squeaky.

Fit: This sandal only comes in whole sizes. I tried on a size 7 and it was too long for 6.5-sized me. If you’re a half size like me, size down.

The Leather Platform Sandal

Everlane Leather platform sandals in white, as worn on me in front of a mirror.

The Leather Platform Sandal comes in white, black, and golden brown

Where It’s Made: Thai Binh, Vietnam

What I Liked: Some platform shoes feel too clunky and unwieldy, but the Leather Platform Sandal‘s 1.75″ height is manageable. Gives you height, but is easily walkable. The bio-based EVA midsole is lighter compared to other platforms. Plus it gives these sandals a nice cushiony bounce in each step. The outsole is made of recycled and natural leather, so it has some grip.

What Was Meh: Would love to see arch support on these. It’s the only thing keeping me from ordering them.

Fit: While these also come only in whole sizes, the fact that they’re adjustable in two areas helps give them a better fit. The straps across the top of the foot and at the back around the heel both have adjustable Velcro closures. The strap across the toes is not adjustable.

The ReNew Sport Sandal

stock photo of the Everlane sport sandal in brown.

ReNew Sport Sandal – $75. I forgot to take a photo in the store, so this stock photo will have to do.

Everlane sport sandal in black as worn by me in front of a mirror. The mirror reflects my feet.

These black ReNew Sport Sandal are full price at $75, but white, red, and multicolor are on sale.

The ReNew Sport Sandal seems to take heavy inspiration from Tevas, but have a more minimalist, stylish look.

Where It’s Made: Thai Binh, Vietnam

What I Liked: Out of all the footbeds, this one seemed to have a modicum of support for the arch. (Though I would not call it arch support per se. The other shoes just didn’t have any at all.) This footbed felt more comfortable than the others, shape-wise. It’s called ReNew because it’s made of recycled materials including the rubber outsole and polyester upper. Everything is recycled except for the hardware.

What Was Meh: They’re branded with an “E” at the side. This is not a dealbreaker, but I prefer no branding.

Fit: These felt true to size to me and my wide feet. But other reviewers say to size down by half a size. Like the Leather Platform Sandal, the ReNew Sport Sandal is adjustable in two spots. You’re probably wondering how they compare to Tevas. I haven’t tried any, so I can’t really say. But from photos, it appears that Teva sandals have better arch support.

After more than a year of sheltering in place, I was glad to step foot inside a clothing store again. Nothing replaces in-person browsing for me. This means I can finally start up my Fitting Room Review series again. (Unless the Delta variant forces us to lock down again. If you have access to the vaccine, please get your shot!) Even if I don’t buy anything, I do enjoy trying things on. Hope this review was helpful.

Wondering how other Everlane items fit? You can find a directory to all my Everlane reviews here.

Tamga Designs shirt and shorts lounge set in a red floral print

Tropical Vibes: TAMGA Designs Lounge Set

Published by welcomeobjects

If you’ve been following along, you know that I’ve really leaned into loungewear during the pandemic. Today I’m reviewing a lounge set that TAMGA Designs sent to me. TAMGA Designs is a Canadian brand that proves sustainable clothing doesn’t have to be minimalist and neutral. Their clothes give off feminine boho vibes with bright floral prints, ruffles, and high skirt slits.

My style leans towards the minimalist, so to be honest, most of TAMGA Design’s cuts and prints are not for me. But there are a few prints that spoke to me. When TAMGA Designs asked me to pick out something to try, I gravitated towards the Zahara Lounge Set and its more tropical prints.

This post contains gifted items from TAMGA Designs. If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about items I’m interested in. Thanks for supporting Welcome Objects!

Sizing & Materials

Fabric: I ordered the Iris colorway, which reads as a red-orange to me on the site. But in person, it’s a more muted color with a bit of brown to it.

Closeup of the Zahara Lounge Set by TAMGA Designs

A closeup of the Lenzing EcoVero fabric and shell button.

The fabric for the lounge set feels lightweight and smooth, like a light cotton.

The fabric is Lenzing EcoVero, which is a brand name viscose. Viscose is a type of rayon that comes out of dissolving tree pulp (with the help of chemicals), forcing the solution through a machine called a spinneret to create filaments, and then spinning those into yarn. While the raw material comes from plants, the process to create fibers can be super polluting.

Lenzing EcoVero uses wood from responsibly managed forests. Lenzing says the process for creating EcoVero generates 50% lower emissions and water impact compared to generic viscose.

The fabric for the lounge set feels lightweight and smooth, like a light cotton. It’s perfect for warmer days. The dyes in it are also eco-certified. So far, it looks great after washing. I washed in cold water and line dried.

Where It’s Made: Ethically made in Bali.

Sizing & Fit: Here’s a 5′ 9″ model with a 32″ bust and 25.5″ waist wearing a size small in a different colorway.

A model wears the Zahara Lounge set, a shirt and shorts set, in a blue tropical print.

TAMGA Designs Zahara Lounge Set in Lotus – $111 USD

And here’s 5’4 me with a similar bust, but a larger waist wearing medium.

I’m happy to report that the shorts have pockets, and not puny pockets either.

Sizing is available in XS to XXL. In most brands I wear a small, sometimes an XS, but after scrutinizing the garment measurements, I decided to size up to a medium in this set because the shorts run a little small in the waist. In medium, the shorts have a 26.7″ waist (unstretched). I feel this was the right decision for me, even if it meant the matching shirt was a little big as it already has an oversized fit. (The medium shirt has a 43.3″ bust.) But since I intended to sleep and lounge around in these, I don’t mind the shirt being loose.

I’m happy to report that the shorts have pockets, and not puny pockets either.

Styling the Zahara Lounge Set

I fully intend to wear these at home as pajamas. BUT, if I wanted to venture out in them, I could get away with it. Tucking in the shirt makes things a little more polished.

This look is giving me flashback to the ’90s when my mom wore matching sets like this. Except hers were not as flattering. (Sorry, mom!). You can also style the pieces as separates.

Environmental & Cultural Considerations

This is my first time trying TAMGA Designs, and so far I’m happy with the quality and feel of the fabric. That the clothes shipped in a plant-based compostable mailer bag also impressed me. While I’ve seen brands used recycled plastic bags, this is the first brand I’ve encountered that used a compostable mailer.

TAMGA Designs also partners with Canopy Style and the Sumatran Orangutan Society to preserve the rainforests in Indonesia, the country where it manufactures its clothes.

Kimono is not just a generic word for robe-like garments. It refers to something specific.

I’d like to see this thoughtfulness to the environment extend to culture as well. Several of TAMGA Designs’ items are called “kimono.” But as educator and sustainable fashion advocate Emi Ito writes in her article “My Kimono is Not Your Couture,” kimono is not just a generic word for robe-like garments. It refers to something specific, and throwing the word around to describe all sorts of clothes is appropriative and orientalist.

“Contrary to what Orientalist art and contemporary brands might have you believe, kimonos are not just clothes,” Emi writes. “They are garments worn for celebrations, sacred ceremonies, and life’s milestones. They are part of our family stories, which for some of us, are the stories of what was left behind and the people who are no longer with us.”

I passed along a link to Emi’s article through the affiliate marketing firm that TAMGA Designs works with. Maybe they don’t know about the history and meaning of the word. I suggested that they rename their items labeled “kimono” and hope that they do. At the time of this writing, they haven’t changed them.

View of an alley with a wall of leaves, and red flowers.

Summer 2021 Shopping Diary

Published by welcomeobjects

Pandemic Life Lately

Life has been a bit bananas lately, particularly in my personal life, so I haven’t had as much time to blog. I finally stopped by my gym, 16 months after I was last there, to collect my things from my locker. It felt strange to return to a place I used to frequent on a regular basis knowing I wouldn’t be back.

Yesterday most of the Bay Area returned to an indoor mask mandate, though it doesn’t apply to indoor dining as I saw people eating inside restaurants. For some of us (me), we never stopped masking in public spaces. I’ve visited with friends who are likewise vaccinated without masks indoors. But now I’m worried about the more contagious Delta variant, breakthrough cases, and how the J&J vaccine (which I received) doesn’t seem as effective as the two-dose mRNA vaccines against Delta.

Things I Bought in June & July

Just because I was busy doesn’t mean that I didn’t take a peek at some sales, though in general, my online window shopping was way down. I browsed sales over at Vetta (still going on) and Two Days Off, but nothing caught my eye. I didn’t even look at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, which has become less interesting to me over the years. The only purchase I made was the Stila eyeliner set since it’s a decent discount for a product I use regularly.

There was one sale I did give in to: dr. Liza’s 60% off summer sale. I’ve been quite happy with the two pairs of shoes I own from this small brand. (See my review of the ballet flats here). With such a generous sale, I treated myself to three pairs of shoes, including these new sneaker sandals, which have the look of the sandals that first got my attention, but with a shorter heel.

Tamga Designs shirt and shorts lounge set in a red floral print

Zahara Lounge Set – $111 USD

I was also gifted something from a brand, so I guess that counts as shopping: this cute lounge set by TAMGA Designs, an ethical and sustainable Canadian brand that makes clothes in floral prints. You’ll be seeing this soon on the Gram and I’ll write about it more after I’ve had a chance to wear it some more. (UPDATE: here’s my review.)

I also added something back to my wardrobe that I had previously KonMaried. So, while that’s not shopping exactly, it added to my wardrobe count. Previously, I had removed every single one of my work dresses (think sheath dresses) since I no longer work in an office. When I say removed, I mean I listed them on Poshmark, but they were all still hanging in my closet. Not surprisingly, office wear hasn’t sold well, so I decided to free up the closet space.

Recently I gathered them up to donate to Dress for Success. But at the last moment, I decided that it was reasonable to keep just one. The one I kept wasn’t necessarily the most flattering shape-wise on me, but it was the most unique, made by a local designer out of high quality natural fabrics like wool and silk. Have you ever reinstated something from your donate pile? What was it?

In non-clothing items, I bought this Merit combo foundation and concealer stick. I figured it was time to throw out the liquid products that I’ve been using since 2016. (Yes, I have been ignoring the little symbols on the packaging indicating things expired in 12 or 24 months because they seemed fine. It’s fine to use makeup for 5 years, right?) I used the shade quiz on Sephora’s website, and to my surprise, it worked. So far, so good. I feel like it blends quite nicely and I like the convenience of two products in one, and in stick form at that.

Welcome Objects 2021 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 5
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 0
Subtractions: 0
Total Number of Wardrobe Items: 160

Things I’m Shopping For

Dreaming of traveling again, I’ve started looking around at carry-on luggage, though I don’t have any trips planned. My last carry-on bag was this Travelpro rollerboard. I bought it based on the WireCutter’s recommendation, but I never felt completely satisfied with it. It just seemed meh to me, both in terms of its conventional looks and its functionality. (It’s a two-wheeler and I wish I had bought a four-wheel spinner instead.) I ended up giving it to a relative who needed a suitcase.

Must-haves for my carry-on include:

  • spinner wheels
  • lightweight
  • side and top handles
  • at least 13.5″ wide inside
  • exterior pocket

Right now I have my eye on the Monos Carry-On Pro. I have to admit that part of its appeal is its sleek minimalist aesthetic, though from the reviews it sounds solidly made. If you have a carry-on bag that you love, tell me about it.

A hand holding a pink Giesswein Wool Sneaker

Giesswein Wool Sneaker Review

Published by welcomeobjects

Comfy, cute shoe alert! Today, I’m reviewing the Wool Sneaker from Giesswein. This shoe was gifted to me from the brand. To be honest, I hadn’t heard of the Giesswein until they reached out to me. They are a family-owned business, three generations deep, from Austria.

The company says they are committed to sustainable production. How? Giesswein uses organic, natural materials, namely wool. They also make Rothy’s-like ballet flats out of recycled ocean plastic. The company says their production process is zero waste and uses up to 90% recycled water. Giesswein sources their Mulesing-free wool from Uruguay, makes the fabrics in Austria, and assembles their shoes in Vietnam and China. They say they visit these factories twice a year, factories that have “exemplary” work conditions.

Giesswein let me pick a product to try, and I quickly gravitated towards the Giesswein Wool Sneakers, which appealed to me with its classic look.

These shoes were gifted to me for review. As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about items I’m interested in. This post contains affiliate links (not to the shoes, but to other items). If you shop through my links, I may earn a commission. Thanks for supporting Welcome Objects!

Giesswein Wool Sneaker in pink, as viewed from above

Giesswein Wool Sneaker – $99.95. Yes to laces that match the shoes.

Sizing & Materials

First Impressions: Upon picking up the package, the light weight surprised me. There are shoes in here? Indeed, this shoe is only 160 grams, or 5.6 ounces. Impressive.

Upon picking up the package, the light weight surprised me. There are shoes in here?

Fit: The Wool Sneaker, like all Giesswein shoes, comes in whole sizes. I am a wide-ish 6.5, so I always round up to a 7 when ordering a shoe that only comes in whole sizes. However the size 7s that arrived felt big, like an entire size too big. Turning the shoe over, I saw that it was marked Euro size 38. Hmmm. Isn’t a 38 the same as a US 7.5?

I went back to look at the website, and that’s when I realized that you can toggle between US, UK, and EU sizing. I wear a Euro 37, which in my experience is equivalent to a US 6.5. But on Giesswein’s site a 37 is labeled a US 6. I was able to exchange the 7/38 for the 6/37, which fit much better. Moral of the story: go with the European sizing as it’s more accurate.

Giesswein Wool Sneaker in pink

The Giesswein Wool Sneaker comes in 12 colors.

Materials: Giesswein uses what they call Merino Wool 3D stretch for the upper. It’s water-resistant and the wool doesn’t feel itchy at all. The sole is made out of EVA, a shock-aborbing material, and feels super light. The removable insole is also Merino wool. A nice thing about these materials and the design is that that you can machine wash the whole shoe. (But don’t put them in the dryer!)

A hand holding a Giesswein Wool Sneaker to show the lightweight sole.

The lightweight EVA sole

Comfort & Wearibility

Breaking Them In: These shoes felt comfy upon putting them on, so I didn’t think I’d need to break them in. I was wrong. As soon as I got them, I wore them without socks to run an errand in the neighborhood. In that short time I developed two blisters at the back of my feet. The shoe even broke skin on my right foot, and I had to lay off of them for more than a week as the area scabbed over and healed. Pro Tip: wear these with socks first to break them in!

These shoes felt comfy upon putting them on, so I didn’t think I’d need to break them in. I was wrong.

I did that for about two weeks. And then for good measure, I rubbed an emory board at the inside back of the shoes, just in case there was anything irritating me. That’s probably not great for the fabric, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

Comfort: After the initial fiasco, these shoes have been good. Even though I don’t see an arch support, my arches are happy. I’m still not walking all over the place like I did in pre-pandemic days. I only recently took public transit for the first time. But I go on 40-minute walks or run errands in these with no pain or problems.

Merino wool is supposed to be temperature and moisture regulating. As the owner of sweaty feet, I can report that these feel good moisture-wise. However, I do find them warm. On a recent 80-degree day, they felt slightly warm to me.

How does Giesswein compare to Allbirds?

Comfort wise, I have a slight preference for that cushy feeling of the Allbirds insoles.

Price wise, these brands are in a similar range. Allbirds are $95. These Giesswein Wool Sneakers retail for $99.95, though other shoes run up to $139.95.

Style-wise, I have to go with Giesswein. Of course, this is not an apples to apples comparison. I own the Allbirds Wool Loungers, a slip-on shoe, which I reviewed a while back. They have a different look altogether. The material for the Wool Loungers is clearly wool, whereas the textile of the Giesswein Wool Sneakers have a woven look.

There are other Giesswein shoes that look more similar to Allbirds. For example, the Giesswein Merino Runners and the Allbirds Wool Runners resemble each other.

The Allbirds Wool Piper and Tree Piper come closest in terms of looks to the Giesswein Wool Sneakers. But I haven’t tried the Allbirds so I can’t make a direct comparison. From the photos though, the Giesswein sneakers look more refined.

Allbirds have never looked quite right to me, at least on me. Their shoes are too rounded for my taste in the toe box. Plus, I’ve had problems with my toes pushing up against the fabric unattractively. The Giesswein Wool Sneakers, though a casual shoe, are just a bit more graceful in shape. Styling them with shorts or casual pants are a no brainer. But I find I can also style them with more elegant pieces like a paperbag waist skirt.

Another consideration is the color choices. Allbirds come in neutrals and earth tones like grays and browns. With Giesswein, I could choose from every day colors like black, navy, and white, but there are also fun, bright colors like a handsome red and neon yellow. I opted for zyklam, a berry pink, to add a pop of color to my outfits.

View of Giesswein Wool Sneaker on my feet, next to some flowers at a flower shop.

Pact Sweatpants [review] // Giesswein Shoes

Looking down at dr. liza leopard print flats on colorful tile

What I Bought Since Vaccination

Published by welcomeobjects

Hi there. It’s me. The sporadic blogger. Things has been quite hectic lately — a lot going on (much of it stressful) in personal and work life. But, you know what, I am now fully vaccinated and that is a huge relief. That first hug I gave to a friend (also vaccinated) after my vaccination made me almost cry.

Not So Lockdown Life

Lately, I’ve been venturing out a little more. I even ate indoors the other day (at the place above with the lovely tile). It was at a restaurant with plentiful windows along several walls, which they opened up, so it seemed well ventilated. (I’m still not comfortable with eating indoors in most situations.) I visited the eyebrow waxing lady for the first time since the pandemic began (while double masked). She’s someone I’ve seen for years and she gently laughed at my DIY job, letting me know that one eyebrow was kind of uneven. So happy to have some professional help! And soon I’ll visit the hair stylist.

Since I wrote about taking a wardrobe inventory, I’ve purged 26 items from my closet, and put a few others in purgatory (meaning that I can’t quite decide if I should keep them or not.) I started off the year with 173 items, so that means I’m down to 147 …. except that I bought a few things.

Things I Bought in April & May

Most of these were April purchases. For some reason, it seems like I do a burst of shopping every spring. Probably has something to do with trying to be good the first several months of the year.

** affiliate links below **

The Boyfriend Shirt, the Girlfriend Shirt, and the Every Day Pant, all from Vetta – While writing my review of Vetta’s Boyfriend Shirt, they happened to release it in new colors. I fell for the French Navy color, a very dark blue. And though, as I learned from my wardrobe count, tops is one of the categories where I have more than plenty, I gave in and bought another Boyfriend Shirt. I also ordered the Girlfriend Shirt and the Every Day Pant, mostly just to try them out. But I ended up keeping them. (The nice thing about ordering multiple items from Vetta is that there’s a discount.) I’ll probably do a write-up of both items, especially a comparison between the Boyfriend and Girlfriend Shirts, as that was something I wondered about a lot before purchasing them.

Opal House Plastic Wave Texture Tumbler – I don’t usually make impulse purchases when it comes to housewares, but I couldn’t help it when I came upon these plastic tumblers in Target one evening. They come in an array of cheery colors. I bought some short and tall ones in orange and pink. The design reminds me of some amber-colored glass tumblers my parents used to own in the 1970s, which is what probably sealed the deal for me.

(I was also very tempted by the Hilton Cater for Target collaboration of planters, gardening tools, and plants (both real and faux), but I didn’t see the planter (the medium one) I was interested in while in the store, and now it’s sold out online. Just as well. I don’t need another planter. I wouldn’t even know where to put it.)

Giesswein Wool Sneakers – This super lightweight sneaker was gifted to me from the brand. I went for an uncharacteristically bright pink color. I’ve been testing them out and will write a review very soon. (UPDATE: here’s my review.)

New Balance 574 in Leopard Print – Y’all know I love a good leopard print (as evidenced by my dr. Liza flats review) These are a bit extra since there’s not one, but two prints.

Welcome Objects 2021 Wardrobe Count To Date
Additions: 8
Number of Additions That Are Secondhand: 0
Subtractions: 26
Total Number of Wardrobe Items: 155